12:14PM: DeShields can opt out of his minors deal with the Rangers if he isn’t on the active roster by June 1, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
7:21AM: The Yankees have shown interest in trading for Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields Jr., according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link). DeShields signed a minor league contract with Texas during the offseason, and has yet to see any Major League action in 2021.
Considering the Yankees’ injury woes in the outfield, DeShields would likely have a much easier path to big league playing time in the Bronx than he will in Arlington. Aaron Hicks and Ryan LaMarre (himself an offseason minors signing for New York) are both on the injured list, while Rosenthal notes that Clint Frazier is dealing with a sore neck. Giancarlo Stanton hasn’t played in the outfield since 2019, but he is also on the IL if the Yankees were considering him as an emergency option, leaving the team with Aaron Judge, Brett Gardner, Miguel Andujar, and the struggling Frazier as their top options for outfield duty.
Greg Allen and Socrates Brito are available at Triple-A, but the Yankees could prefer a bit of remaining upside in the 28-year-old DeShields. While DeShields has hit only .246/.326/.340 over 2056 career PA in the majors, he does offer plus baserunning and a solid outfield glove capable of above-average defense in center field.
It’s safe to assume the Yankees wouldn’t need to surrender much if they did trade for DeShields, who returned to Texas after being non-tendered by the Indians in December. The Rangers sent DeShields to Cleveland as part of the Corey Kluber trade in December 2019, but DeShields fared poorly in his lone season with the Tribe, first testing positive for COVID-19 in July and then hitting a modest .252/.310/318 in 120 plate appearances.
“It’s safe to assume the Yankees wouldn’t need to surrender much if they did trade for DeShields”…no doubt.
makes no sense- Bring up Florial- he would be better in the long run.
Unless its to clear a player from the 40 giving them some flexibility.
Florial can’t hit minor league pitching, what makes you think he’s going to hit MLB pitching?
Dude is already 23, gotta throw him in there and see what he can do at some point
Apparently Deshields can’t either
Are you trying to win or lose?
DeShields has a 76 wRC+, .296 wOBA and .666 OPS. That includes a 67 wRC+ and .283 wOBA in the last 3 seasons. I’m not saying that Florial will be a silver slugger, but if the alternative is a sub-80 wRC+/OPS+, and sub-.300 wOBA guy, you might as well see what Florial can do.
.271 average in 1,700+ minor league at bats.
All but 56 of those AB’s below AA. Sheesh nothing like context.
Some people have no idea what they’re talking about… I’m going to give everyone two batting lines, you tell me which player you’d rather have:
.252/.330/.379
.246/.326/.340
Clearly, you’d rather have the first slash line, right? Well, what if I tell you that’s at the High-A level and the 2nd line is at the MLB level?? I get that you want a guy with more pop than Delino, but if you’re reaching for a guy that’s got all of 17 games above High-A as your saving grace, what kind of trash do you have in the outfield in AA and AAA?? You want a guy hitting .203 in the minors to save you? That’s laughable.
2021 AAA slash lines of these two guys:
.172/.294/.483
.405/.490/.643
One of these guys is clearly more ready to help the Yankees win this year than the other.
Yankees dumpster diving. First Odor, now DeShields.
Of course the Yankees are dumpster diving. They are on a budget remember and don’t care about doing whatever it takes to win. No disrespect for Delino but he’s a solid 4-5th OF. Hicks more than likely missing the year. Yankees need a starting player.
They have one – Get Florial up-
Florial gonna pack up that .100 AVG and .600 OPS and rake against big league arms in the Bronx, you betcha.
Estevan Florial isn’t hitting MiLB hitting over A-Ball and doesn’t deserve a call up. Thomas Milone is a better all-around player and seems to be a better call-up option.
@mlbnyyfan –
Has there been an update on Hicks?
I haven’t seen anything.
Thanks.
“Yankees dumpster diving”…..Wow that’s a real revelation. Like no other teams have done that.
Yankees tend to do it better than most-
Metfan, when was there last championship? Lol
@ctguy You don’t get to use that excuse with that payroll.
The Yankees desperately need to improve their offense, particularly from the left side. Delino does very little to help their offense. Why not get serious and get David Peralta who can lengthen their lineup? I realize Peralta only plays left, but he plays it professionally and Gardner can handle center. Peralta is signed for about 7 mil per year for next 2 plus years. So he’s not expensive, although he would take them over the luxury tax. Staying under the tax and remaining as a legitimate contender would be highly problematic.
The Yankees need to trade Andujar and others possibly for Benintendi
Benintendi is playing well and has an arbitration year left. KC would probably ask for Austin Wells, being that they are pretty solid on pitching and MI prospects but lack corner bats.
Andujar and POSSIBLY others? Lol. More like others and possibly Andujar.
Andujar? Throw in Greg Bird and get Trout.
No reason to get Peralta- if they were to go a bigger name they could go for Gallo or Benintendi- Both are rumored to be available
I would take Benintendi or Peralta over Gallo. Gallo ok for a short term answer on the cheap but not a long term solution. Not much different from Odor.
Good points but they could always start with DeShields and go get Peralta later if they need to
Agree. A Deshields acquisition (like Odor) will have little to no affect on a possible future upgrade even at the same position.
Why not play Florial Or Dominguez. Both have more upside. Probably worst case is they put up deshields numbers
Simple… Neither is close to being ready
Deshields isn’t better- Unless the Yankee magic rubs off on him- Mediocre Players seem to do better in the pinstripes
Deshields is absolutly better then playing a kid with no professional baseball experience.
My thought exactly- give them valuable experience
If a player isn’t ready for the big leagues, bringing them up to learn on the fly is a really bad idea, especially in a big market like New York.
You can ruin a player that way.
I’m in favor of bringing up Florial but Dominguez isn’t nearly ready for the bigs.
Sub Mendoza line and sub .600 OPS against minor league arms is ready?
Lots of reticence on the Yanks part in re Florial, @Joe.
Which is telling.
Yanks have been pretty good about giving their young players a chance since ’15. They seem in no hurry – or even very interested – to promote Florial.
He’s a toolsy young CFer who seems like he could help Right Now
My guess is he is still really struggling to make contact. Which is a drag. Because he profiles as a pretty exciting player.
I just think it’s time for Florial to sink or swim. I wonder if getting to camp so late (visa issue), is what’s keeping him down.
As far as Hicks goes, I expect the injury is going to keep him down for a while. Tex had the same injury and it kept him out about the whole year in 2013.
Sink or swim? He’s only 23. Tex had the same injury in 2009 and played through it. If it was as bad as what Tex had in ’13 he would already be done for the year.
@Stud.. Which is the age to be coming up.
“If it was as bad as what Tex had in ’13 he would already be done for the year.”
Tex came back in May of 2013 before having to miss the rest of the year. So they may try to bring Hicks back only to have him go right back for the rest of the year. Hard to say.
Forgot about his late start.
Good point, @Joe.
He’s a LH power/speed guy so I am unduly smitten with his potential. But there doesn’t seem to be even a whisper about him & the potential to play any time soon this season.
Now with this DeShields rumor – & in light of the current CF situation – this seems to validate that the Yanks just don’t feel he is ready. For a number of possible reasons.
I’m holding out hope that Hicks will be back soon, myself.
Has anyone seen any kind of update? His whole situation has been kind of strange.
The pirates are overrated
Would love for the Yankees to play Florial but Cashman doesn’t want to rush him and start his service time clock
The guy is striking out 30% of the time in AA/AAA. He would be destroyed in the majors, just look at Lee with the Mets. He is not playing because he is not ready not because of some conspiracy to manipulate his service time.
So what everyone strikes out a lot in todays MLB. Florial has a high upside.
30% strike out rate in the minors would just balloon on the majors, case in point Lee on the Mets.
30% k rate is too high even for today’s game
Judge & Stanton backing out of the room!
Florial needs some sustained success in AA/AAA. He might get a cup of coffee while they navigate the injuries but he’s most definitely not ready for a regular MLB job.
His defense is ready and he doesn’t strike out any more than everyone else.
Hey Yankee fans, just watched the Bronx guys take 3 of 4 from Rangers, which they were expected to by the way, but what I noticed is the constant moving around of DJLM, 1st base, 2nd, and 3rd. What is up. Finding this guy a permanent spot should be a priority. Too good of a player.
Yankees love DJL flexibility but I agree keep him at second full time. I guess when Odor plays he can only play second
He is a multidimensional player- he can be shifted around with little downside.
his flexibility is part of his value
His flexibility is his value, for some reason that seems to have come at a cost of his offense this year, then again it’s only 25% of the season, the Yankees are going to be fine
Just go down to Mexico and get Puig
The Yankees are only about 3 million under the tax. Yankees saving that for the TD. I doubt Puig will play on a cheap deal.
Oh he might – With the assault scandal surrounding him – it will be the best he could get- Yankees probably will not touch him.
I think the Yankees have been pretty clear that they don’t care about assault.
The Yankees literally have Domingo German on the roster, sadly I don’t think thy care about assault.
This would be the same type deal they made for Maybin in ’19. That worked out pretty well. Yanks need some quick CF depth. I wouldn’t expect a substantial deal until Hicks and Frazuer situations become clearer.
The Yankees don’t need a quick fix with all 3 outfielders questionable. I still think Benintendi is the best move. A lefty bat and a great defensive player
The Yankees will need someone who can play center. Benintendi’s numbers in center are not good. They just as well see what Florial can do.
If it’s just an issue with range you can live with a Benintendi or Peralta in CF for less than a season. They are solid fundamental fielders. Unlike Frazier who is a waste of footspeed and arm in left.
I like Bendi but not sure why KC would move him. Inciarte is another possibility but looks like he’s nursing the hammy cause he’s not playing much right now.
Could have plugged Maybin in again if took action last week. Now in Queens.
Victor Rayes from the Tigers would fit well.plays all outfield positions, some power,switch hitter,hit well the last2 yeats and at or about minimum salary
This guy isn’t good, but he had to be a better option for the Mets than Maybin or Fargas, no?
Coming up next: Yankees acquire Delino Deshields for Rob Refsnyder
As much as I would hate the loss of them Gallo and Gibson to Yankees for Andujar, Sanchez, and either Abreu/Gill/Losiaga/ might be worth it for both teams
As well as Gibson has pitched I don’t think the Yanks are going to forfeit thier CBT reset for him and Gallo.
Shoulda just held onto Tauchman.
You got that right….
There must be more moving parts to this. I would anticipate Deshields for cash considerations or a PTBNL would get it done. Maybe that’s the case and it’s just reported a little earlier than trade talks of this magnitude.
Love it how people would judge and say regarding Estevan Florial won’t get it done in the big leagues how many guys in the minor leagues that didn’t put up good numbers then went up to the big leagues and was a different player. In his six years in the minors he is a .271 hitter.
Makes no sense for the Yankees to do a counter move on the 40 man roster to bring in delino deshields jr when you have Florial on the 40 man roster and time to give him a chance and see what he is made of.
Or like others have said do a commendable package to bring Bendi over give up Frazier, Abreu or give the GM of the Royals a list and say pick three out of this list but dont waste a damn Roster spot on DeShields Jr.
Yankees love to mess with the heads of their prospects they done it to Miguel Andujar, Clint Frazier, Florial, Deivi Garcia to name a few
In the Dominican League Florial was doing really good and we are talking about established Major Leaguers playing in the dominican league and he held his own now is the time to give the kid a damn chance and if they feel they dont then trade him for Bendi but dont get a Deshields Jr or any other scrap heap they are trying to catch lightening in a bottle.
If florial is anywhere near ready than why would NY not try him now? And what exactly is “mess with thier heads”?
Meaning that the Yankees like to play their little games with the prospects they have done so since the Bernie Williams days. If you don’t know how they dont mess with their heads case in point no need for the Yankees to have signed Brett Gardner they could have allocated the money on someone else in bringing him back it also gave Clint Frazier insecurity if you dont see how that messed with him the min he hit a slump in the beginning of the season immediately he was platoon.
Same thing with Deivi Garcia clearly better pitcher than Happ at the time used him as a starter to bring in a washed up Happ .
HOw many chances has Tyler Wade received? how about Mike Ford yet they pull the plug quickly on a Garcia or say Florial isnt ready but Wade minor league career is .274 just a tad better.
Bottom line Florial has a higher upside than those like Wade, Ford etc give him a chance if he does good then you either have yourself a trade chip if he doesnt he goes back down to work on his swing.
But keep plugging in bottom feeders to create a roster move when you have options in the minors.
Frazier has not been platooned. Gracia made all his starts on regular rest, Happ had nothing to do with it. Ford and Ward are bench players, Florial needs AB’s and as long as his whiff rate is around 30% it will be in the minors.
Name me one player who had Florial like numbers in the minors and was even league average at 23.
Stop It! Have you husband explain why you have no idea what you are talking about!
Florial has not shown anything in the minors since A level, in 2017. And he only played 18 games in the Dominican Winter League, where you think he was “doing really good.” Since then, he’s looked like a middling developmental prospect.
All true, Florial is a big question as far as readiness…..but why would the Yankees want to continue to deplete an already middle of the road farm system for another teams minor league player Florial probably wouldn’t do any worse than DeShields, and is already on the 40 man roster….to me that’s the biggest point….save your assets for a major move to solve the outfield as the season cruises into June rather than continue to deplete it with dog sh_t moves like trading for this guy!
Anyone that has played in the Dominican Leagues or Mexican Leagues can tell you their is more talent there than in the minors and it is much harder. He did pretty well facing major league pitching mind you Tatis Jr amongst others played in the dominican winter leagues.
Middling developmental prospect? he was a top 100 prospect until the hammate and wrist injuries then covid he is still a better option right now than delino deshields jr
The yankees and Mets need to work out an arrangement. Between the two teams they have one outfield left due to injuries. They can do an outfield share. They just have to play their games in stadiums right next two each other. There will be some games delayed but it makes as much sense as all the rule changes coming down the pike.
This is where Frazier SHOULD be in the OF every day, but he hasn’t shown much despite getting the opportunity. NYY should have dealt him when he had decent value.
If the Mets could get Cameron Maybin for $1 dollar than certainly the Yankees could DeShields for $1.50 maybe $2, $2.25 tops
To all the folks wanting florial up, a few things to consider. He had a history of struggling against pitching in the low minors, finally after getting past A ball, this year florial started off on fire. I. The short minor league season so far in AA he hit 4hrs. Made great contact but Kd 9 times, got promoted to AAA last week I believe, and hit a monster bomb, but has struggled to 9 Ks already in half the abs in AA. He still needs time to adjust to better pitching, he’s not a generational talent like a miggy or Soto who can skip the minors and mash at the bigs.
Another thing to consider is in a perfect world, cash doesn’t want florial logging enough mlb innings for control purposes (service time), longer they keep florial down, the more years they have of him. Injuries have sped that process up. But I still think cash goes the trade route unless 2 more guys get hurt, and Brito and Allen will surely get the call before florial I’d imagine. Wade has filled in decently in his short time in the outfield.
Akiyama; Reds are ready to sell low…
Shogo, gold glove candidate that will hit ok….
People seem to forget this about Cashman. If the media projects a trade it does NOT happen. If they do not, that is when it happens.
@Rangers13 don’t want Gibson. Loaisiga off Limits with that package your offering. Offer Dunning and Gallo then call and make a deal.
I know DeShields isn’t great, but even his career averages are better than what we have been getting out of the majority of our outfielders outside of Judge!
I didn’t hate him in the CLE OF, but they had like 4 other OFs at the time with the same skillset and production.
Notice! Notice!
A trade rumor
On a trade rumor site!
Hurray!!!
LOL
Watch Cash trade for Deshields and he suddenly bat 270-5-40 with 40 stolen bases and GG defense in CF. Cash seems to turn bronze to gold.
Exactly but it’s better to just complain
lol
Batting .205
Sorry wrong spot
Why not see what the cubs want for Ian Happ? Plays CF, LF and 2B ( although not a great 2) Switch hitter is a plus..and has some power.
Why not try Wade or Dietrich who are already on the team
With Baez, Rizzo, and Bryant on the way out, I doubt the Cubs will be too keen on moving Happ right now.
If the Yanks can find a workaround for the luxury tax, Bryant could probably hack it in CF in the short term.
Just slide Tauchman over to CF….oh, oops. Oh well maybe Peralta can play there?
I bet Cashman gets someone like Buxton another player who can’t stay healthy
Tauchman batting .205 but don’t let that stop the negative narrative
He’s been really good for SF, they are really happy with his clutch hitting and defense. SF gave him a chance to play every day and he’s won some big games for them, no question he’d be starting in NY everyday if he wasn’t traded
Batting.205
Who is this GM and what have you done with Mr. Cashman.
GOT GET GALLO AND STOP THIS SILLINESS.
The Yankees have enough non performing players.
The Yankees are waiting to see if the Expos will get involved
Wow! This is just madness… lol
Team just went 14-5 with a no hitter sporting
one of the best if not the best pitching staffs in baseball.
Of course they’re dumpster picking it’s 2 months from trading deadline.
And Florial is battling.105 in AAA
Smh
What Brett Gardner is to the Yankees today reminds me what Roy White was to the Yankees in the 1970s. They are almost afterthoughts. The Yankees try to “upgrade” the position every year. In the end, Gardner and White are the type of players that can be counted on most.
White was one of the best players in the game in the early 70s, offense was deflated and defense was not appreciated
GARDY is old reliable but his bat has really slowed down. If baseball had a designated fielder I would be okay with that. I hope the Gallo rumors are false. Don’t need another high strike out guy.
A few days ago, the Mets acquired Cameron Maybin, who was money for the Yankees in 2019, for the grand price of one dollar. And Cashman is trading for DeShields.
Keep burnishing those genius credentials, Cash. Who could’ve predicted that Hicks would be out for a while?
At this point the Yankees should activate Paul O’Neill from the broadcast booth
Should have kept Refsnyder. Hitting over .400. Those analytics guys saw something special in Ryan McBroom.
Maybe they were going for the sweep.
Yankees need to try and get Winker from the Reds. Maybe Andujar and Greg Bird… LOL.
I wouldn’t make a deal with the Reds. Reds refused to consider a deal for Castillo without Gleyber. I also hold a grudge with Pirates not giving Cole to Yankees much sooner.
They should have kept Tauchman. He might have found his swing again with all of the playing time he would be getting these days. They knew the injury history of Hicks, Judge, Frazier and Stanton. I’m not sure why they didn’t hold onto Tauchman or at least talk Bruce into sticking around a bit longer. Guy gave it up at 34 after a bad couple of weeks to start the season. I am sure he would have hit a groove.
DeShields for Kluber